Lionel Messi tried to convince Neymar not to leave Barcelona by promising the Brazilian that he would make him a Ballon d’Or winner.
In a desperate move by Messi and Luis Suarez to make Neymar stay, the two players took the 25-year-old to one side at the Sheraton Parsippany hotel in New Jersey, where the team were staying ahead of their game against Juventus in the Metlife Stadium in July.
According to Sport’s Ivan San Antonio, Messi told Neymar: “What do you want? Do you want to be a Ballon d’Or [winner]? I’ll make you the Ballon d’Or.”
It is understtod that Messi was ready to give up his free-kick and penalty duties to Neymar, while also giving him a more central role in attack.
Despite the Argentine’s big gesture, Neymar’s mind was already made up and he quit the Camp Nou in a world-record move.
Messi already has five Ballon d’Or/Fifa World Player/The Best awards. Cristiano Ronaldo is expected to draw level this year, while Neymar is heavily tipped to join the race in 2018.
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